Premonsoon clouds float over the Mumbai Skyline.

The power of denial

Professional photography meant access to a lot of equipments starting with good SLR to having your dark room; some even had their own processing machines. The desire to produce stunning images required not just craftsmanship or skills but access to logistics too which was limited to a handful. There were many whose creativity was limited or dependent on other technicians as to how they processed their stills or whether they could get their negatives pushed or pull for creative effects. I think the digital industry saw this gaping hole in the market which comprises mostly of amateur photographers and within a decade they changed the global photography market. Now with just one time investment for a good DSLR and software like Photoshop, you bypass everything else that came between a photographer and his image. No film stocks, no labs, no chemicals, no dark rooms, and no hassle of exercising economy of usage.

Though, I am still an avid fan of film based photography because nothing beats the photochemical look even though I have to spend on expensive stocks and digitisation of negatives. I don’t like to compromise, maybe. For many others, who are happy with digital, the credit goes to the digital revolution which grew from mass based photography support. One can never underplay the power of denial.

About the picture above – http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=631856208&v=photos&viewas=631856208#/photo.php?pid=2296036&id=631856208

 If the world keeps quiet on Sri Lanka I will interpret it as giving a tacit nod that yes nations facing insurgency or domestic squabbles can follow this route. What do we do then? Roll tanks and use precision guided bombs and heavy artillery shells in the heart of Srinagar and Kohima?…

read more under WRITING-NON FICTION page.

HEADLINES TODAY an Indian news channel confirmed with video clippings that Velupillai Prabhakaran, his son, and his top leadership have been killed as they tried to break their way through in an unmarked ambulance to reach a lagoon that would help them reach the heavy forested area of Mullaithivu.

They have been cornered for quite a while in an area less than 4 sq. km. for over a month now. The final nail in the LTTE’s coffin comes with the formation of a strong UPA govt. in New Delhi. The good news is that LTTE might be finished but the flip side is with the overwhelming victory for Sri-Lankan Army the Lankan govt. may not show enough resolve to really solve the problem of SriLankan Tamils who are  suffering a catastrophic humanatarian crisis.

It would be interesting to watch as to how New Delhi now takes on Colombo in solving the problems of Srilankan Tamils.

                                                                                                              A Street car named Darling!

One of the most famous Cabarets in Prague – The Darling Cabaret. Located in the heart of the city at Vaclavaske Namesti; its patrons are mainly British and Indian tourists who are on weekend stag tours. The tall vertical colourful neon signboard is like a lighthouse reaching out far and wide. As if the glow of neon wasn’t enough they have a special promotion package-a limousine to fetch you right at your doorstep, if you are too lazy to venture out because of the minus 10 degree cold.

Enroute to Cape Point, i came across this picturesque sight. Phaldie stopped the vehicle and I got down to take a picture. There was a man

seated at the edge of the cliff, leaning on some kind of balustrade. Phaldie, explained he is a look out for the shark fins. If he sights any, he raises an alarm so that all surfers can scurry back to the beach. No shark attacks in the recent past though.

Nothing beats the impression of a charcoal sketch for a storyboard. However, storyboard artists are few and expensive for small budget commercials and features. Softwares like Frameforge 3D studio do provide a fillip to most of us for whom sketching is just doodling matchstick caricatures on tissue papers of a coffee shop…

more on ‘Writing-Non Fiction’ page

fast forward to 2009 and I have to use Just-Dial facility to find out are there any still film processing shops around or they all have been devoured by the digital revolution. The bulky process machines replaced by desktops, chemicals pipped off by photoshops, and people slowly forgot the photochemical look of a film; they are contend with digital images – it’s hassle free, you see!

I am sure the so called ‘film look’ void in the market will soon be filled with a 49$ plug-in for image enhancing softwares. Whatever, film based photography has become expensive now, especially in India. Even in Europe, there is still a substantial demand and market for film based photographers. I am sincerely hoping to see some revival of film.

I got a great news from my director early morning – Skywalker likes the rough cut of ‘11weeks’, they loved the story and liked the visuals. and now they will
mix the sound and make it sound like any other Hollywood biggie.
This is a great news to come from Lucasfilms’ subsidiary company i thought for a low budget film to jostle for space among Hollywood studio creations like A curious case of Benjamin Button, Iron man, Ice age-3, Cloverfield, BEOWULF, Mummies, Pirates of the Carib. and of course Madagascer -2.
Dipesh is grinning from ear to ear, so is the rest of the crew. Hoping for wonders in future.

www.skysound.com

Ultra 16mm Demo from Cinelicious on Vimeo.